<\/p>\n
Demond Wilson, who found fame in the 1970s playing Lamont on Sanford and Son and went on to become a minister, has died. He was 79.<\/p>\n
Mark Goldman, a publicist for Wilson, confirmed to the Associated Press that he died following complications from cancer on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cA devoted father, actor, author, and minister, Demond lived a life rooted in faith, service, and compassion. Through his work on screen, his writing, and his ministry, he sought to uplift others and leave a meaningful impact on the communities he served,\u201d Goldman said in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n
Wilson was best known as the son of Redd Foxx\u2019s comically cantankerous Fred Sanford character in a sitcom that was among the first to feature a mostly Black cast when it began airing in 1972.<\/p>\n
The thoughtful Lamont had to put up with his junkyard owner father\u2019s schemes, bigotry and insults \u2013 most famously, and repeatedly, \u201cYou big dummy!\u201d<\/p>\n
The show was a hit for its six seasons on NBC but ended when ABC offered Foxx a variety show.<\/p>\n
Wilson was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and grew up in the Harlem section of Manhattan, according to the biography on his website.<\/p>\n
He served in the US army in Vietnam and was wounded there, and he returned to New York and acted on stage before heading to Hollywood.<\/p>\n
A guest appearance on All in the Family in 1971 led to his best-known role. Norman Lear produced both shows.<\/p>\n
Wilson told AP in 2022 that he got the role over comedian Richard Pryor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018C\u2019mon, you can\u2019t put a comedian with a comedian. You\u2019ve got to have a straight man,\u2019\u201d he said he told the producers.<\/p>\n
After Sanford and Son ended, Wilson starred in the shorter-lived comedies Baby I\u2019m Back and The New Odd Couple. He later appeared in four episodes of the show Girlfriends in the 2000s, along with a handful of movie roles.<\/p>\n
Though he returned to the screen at times, he told the Los Angeles Times in 1986 that the acting life was not for him: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t challenging. And it was emotionally exhausting because I had to make it appear that I was excited about what I was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson became a minister in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
He is survived by his wife, Cicely Wilson, and their six children.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
#Demond #Wilson #played #Lamont #Sanford #Son #dies #aged #news<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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